William FERMOR of Somerton

Will of William FERMOR of Somerton

Will 11 Sep 1552 Probate 8 Nov 1552

Source:	TNA no. PROB11/35
Contributed by:	Grantley Hutchens	Go to Translation	Go to Transcript

Summary.

... I Willyam Fermor Esq of Somerton ... somewhat sick in body ...
Name	Relationship	[Comments] or Major Bequests
William FERMOR		Somerton
Elizabeth FERMOR	Wife (Exec)
Jerome FERMOR	Nephew
John FERMOR	Nephew
Thomas FERMOR	Nephew	[with unnamed wife legatee]
Mary FERMOR	Niece
Anne FERMOR	Sister	[in-law]
- FYNES	Cousin	[with unnamed wife legatee]
- LOVE	Cousin	[with unnamed wife legatee]
Elizabeth HORNE	Aunt
Edmund HORNE	Cousin	[s Elizabeth]
Thomas BARRET	Cousin
Marquess of WINCHESTER	Legatee
Sir John BAKER	Legatee
Sir Willyam PORTEMAN	Legatee
Thomas LUCYE	Cousin
Thomas ABRIDGES	Legatee	[à Bridges?]
Doctor COOLE	Legatee
Mr HAWARDEN	Legatee	Steeple Aston [parson]
Mr BROWNE	Legatee	Deddington [vicar]
George MEDLEYE	Legatee
Elizabeth MEDLEYE	Legatee	[w George]
John ANNE	Legatee	North Aston
William KENDALL	Legatee Servant Witness
Rondulphe WALLER	Legatee Servant	[see Note]
Thomas HIDE	Legatee Servant
Nicholas WHITE	Legatee Servant
William LANGTON	Legatee Servant
George -	Legatee Butler
Richard CLERKE	Legatee Servant
Thomas SYMES	Legatee Servant
- FAWCKEN[ER?]	Legatee Servant	[with unnamed wife legatee]
Edward COMPTON	Legatee Servant
unnamed	other Servants
Thomas ALSELL	Legatee ex-Servant
James HUGESTON	Legatee ex-Servant
Thomas GARDYNER	Legatee Witness	[priest]
John ARDERNE	Cousin Witness	[with unnamed wife legatee]
Edward PALMER	Cousin	[with unnamed wife legatee]
William WILFORDE	Cousin Godson	[see Note]
Johanna WILFORDE	Niece	[sis William -- see Note
Thomas WENMAN	Cousin	Ebruley [NTH Evenley?].
Thomas EDLOWE	Mention
John AMYE Sr	Witness
Rad'm? WALKER	Witness	[see Note]

Probate 8 Nov 1552 London ... William Dalby? representing Elizabeth relict and Executrix ...

Transcriber's and Editor's Notes

He describes William WILFORDE as his "cousin", but William's sister Johanna as his "niece". So is William a nephew or Johanna a cousin? The former seems more likely. The brother's will mentions them, but not helpfully.
The ed suspects that legatee & servant Rondulphe WALLER is the same man as witness Rad'm (Latin} WALKER.
BKM Preston Bissett is a couple of miles north of Twyford, and tiny Cowley is between them.
"Ten Copies of wood at Charlbury" -- "Copyhold" tenure existed in 1550, but the word here seems more likely to mean "copses" or "coppices".
The following details are believed to be true but should not be totally relied upon:
Testator: Son of Thomas RICARDIS alias FERMER (1485 qv) & Emott (1501 qv); Brother of Richard (1551 qv).

Translated and paragraphed.
with some of the standard preamble and "legalese" removed.
Go to Glossary

... I Willyam Fermor Esq of Somerton ... somewhat sick in body ...

My body is to be buried in the church of Somerton under the new Arch between the south aisle and the choir, where I have usually knelt.
I give 3s 4d to the mother church of Oxford.
I give 40s to the repair of the poor church of Somerton, and 13s 4d each to the poor churches of Hardwick, Ardley, Fritwell and Godington.
Under her jointure, my wife Elizabeth is to have the peaceful enjoyment for life of my following property:
- The Manor of Somerton etc and the Advowson of the Church of Somerton.
- All my lands and tenements in OXF Somerton, Fritwell, Duns Tew, Steeple Aston, Middle Aston, Idbury, Foscot, Bold, Kingham, Pudle Hill [?] and Banbury.
- Ditto in BKM Cowley, Preston [Bissett?] and Twyford (see Note).
- Ditto in BRK Wodhull [?], Letcombe Regis, East Challow, West Challow and Wantage.
After my wife's decease I give all my lands, tenements, rents etc in Steeple Aston, Middle Aston, Duns Tew, Idbury, Foscot, Bold, Kingham, Banbury, Cowley, Preston [Bissett?] and Twyford to my nephew Jerome Fermor and to the lawful heirs of his body.
For lack of such issue [I give all of it] to my own right heirs forever.
I give to my nephew John Fermor the Manor of NTH Walton and all my lands, tenements, rents etc in NTH Kings Sutton and Walton.
I also give him the Ł20 which was given to me by his father's will [see Richard FERMER 1551]
I give Ł40 to my niece Mary Fermor towards the preferment of her marriage, if she marries by the advice of her brothers John, Thomas and Jerome, or two of them.
I give to my sister [in-law] Anne Fermor a goblet with a silver-gilt cover wrought with purtcules [??] and pome gardenets [??]
I give to my old good Lord the Marquess of Winchester my Cloth of Arras [wall tapestry] of pictures of the Trinity and St John the Baptist, as a remembrance of my goodwill towards him
I give to my cousin Fynes and his wife and to my cousin Love and his wife each a standing silver-gilt cup with their covers, which I have long used in my own house, to set upon their tables for a remembrance.
I give to my old good masters and friends Sir John Baker, knight, Sir Willyam Porteman, knight, one of the King's Justices, my cousin Thomas Lucye Esq and Thomas Abridges [à Bridges?] Esq, to each a gold sovereign for a remembrance.
I give to my good Aunt Elizabeth Horne, widow, one gold sovereign, and to her son my cousin Edmund Horne Esq one of my young horses of my own breeding, 3-y-o or older.
I give to my cousin Thomas Barret a life Annuity of 40s pa to be levied out of my lands etc in Idbury and Bold.
I give 20s to Doctor Coole, and 10s each to Mr Hawarden, parson of Steeple Aston, and Mr Browne, vicar of Deddington.
I give to my old hearty friend Mr George Medleye and his wife Elizabeth a silver-gilt bowl wrought with peny penuth [??], one of my three gilt bowls now remaining in their custody.
I give 40s to my old good friend John Anne Esq of North Aston.
I give 40s each to my old good servants William Kendall, Rondulphe Waller, Thomas Hide, Nicholas White, William Langton, George my butler, Richard Clerke and Thomas Symes.
I give 20s each to all my other men-servants who are in my service at the time of my decease, and 13s 4d to every maid and woman-servant.
I give 20s to my shepherd Fawcken[er?] and his wife, and 20s to my servant Edward Compton.
All my servants, both men and women, are to have my above legacies over and above their due wages.
I give 10s each to my ex-servants Thomas Alsell and James Hugeston.
Where I have given (or shall give) life Annuities to my old loving servants (by Letters Patent sealed and signed with my own hand), they are all to have and enjoy them peaceably without interference from anyone.
I give 40s to my priest Sir Thomas Gardyner.
I give 20s each to my loving cousins Mr John Arderne and Mr Edward Palmer for them and their wives.
I give 40s to my cousin and godson William Wilforde and 40s to my niece Johanna Wilforde, his sister.
I give 20s to my cousin Thomas Wenman of Ebruley [NTH Evenley??].
During her widowhood my wife is to have the custody and use of all my stuff, both tapestry-hangings and bedding, that belongs to the great chamber over the parlour at Somerton.
Afterwards I give it to my nephew Thomas Fermor and my cousin his wife, as far as will furnish one whole bed with its hangings -- one counterpoint of crimson damask, the other of tapestry.
My wife is also to have the use and profits for twenty years (if she lives so long) of my part of the lease of ten Copies (see Note) of wood at Charlbury which Thomas Edlowe and I have now in service for a term of several years.
After her decease I give it to my nephew Thomas Fermor for the rest of the lease.
My wife or my Executors are at all times [to protect] my nephew Thomas Fermor and his Executors against the Warden and Scholars of New College Oxford re the payment of any money due to them for the wood that I bought from them at BKM Tingewick.
I give 20 marks to the repair of highways between Stratton Audley and Eallesbury[?] and Ł20 to those between Islip and Tetsworth, to be paid within two years after my decease.
I make my wife Elizabeth sole Executrix, she having all the residue of my goods and chattels, paying my debts, making due satisfaction to anyone to whom I have provably done wrong, and arranging for my funeral after a suitable degree but with no pomp or pride or vainglory ... I revoke all other wills.
Witnesses John Amye Sr; John Arden; William Kendall; Rad'm? Walker; Thomas Gardener, clerk

Probate 8 Nov 1552 London ... William Dalby? representing Elizabeth relict and Executrix ...

As transcribed from a copy of the original document.
Original line- and page-breaks are preserved as far as possible.

T: Willi'm ffermor Armig[er]

In the name of god Amen I Willyam ffermor of Som[er]ton
in the Countie of Oxon’ Esquier god be thanked nowe being p[er]fytt and whole in
mynde and memory and sumwhat sicke in bodye do make and ordeyne this my p[rese]nt
last will and testament as hereafter folowith As well of all my Manors Landes
and tenements Rents revercions syrvices and vousons of churches hereafter
mencioned As of all my moveable goodes and Cattalls whatsoev[er] they be w[i]t[h]in
the Realme of Englande or ells where ffirst I bequeathe my soule to Almightie
god in heaven and my bodye to be buryed in the p[ar]ishe churche of Somerton aforsaid
under the newe Arche betwene the Ile of the southe side and the quere wherin I have
used to knele And I give to the mother churche of the diocess of Oxon iijs iiijd And
to the rep[ar]acon of the pore churche of Somerton fourtie shillings And of the poore
churches of Hardwyk Ardley Ferytwell and Gedington to every of them xiijs iiijd
And also I will that Elizabeth my wief shall have and peaseblie enyoie to her for
terme of her lyf the Manor of Som[er]ton with thappurten'nc's and the vouson of the
Churche of Somerton aforesaid And all my landes and tenements whiche I have in
Somerton ffrytwell Dunstewe Steple Aston Mydle Aston Idburye Foscotte Bolde
Kingham pudle hill and Banbury within the Countie of Oxon aforesaide And
also in Cowleye Preston and Twyford in the Countie of Buck And also in Wodhull
Ledecombe Reg[i]s Est Challowe West Challowe and Wantege in the Countye of Berk
for terme of her lyf in the name of her Joynter and dowrie of all my lands and
Tenements what soever they be The remaynder after her decease of all my saide
Landes and tenements Rents rev[er]cions and syrvices with their Appurten[a]nc[e]s in Steple
Aston Mydle Aston Dunstew Idbury ffoscotte Bolde Kingham ^Banbury Colley Preston &
Twyforde aforesaide I do frely give and bequeathe by this my present last wyll and
Testament unto my Nevye Jerome ffermor and to theyres of his bodye laufully
begotten And for lacke of suche Issue to remayne unto the right heyres of me the said
Willyam ffermor forever in fee Also I do give and frelye bequeathe unto my Nevye
John ffermor the Manor of Walton in the Countie of Northt' and all my lands
and ten[emen]ts Rents Reverc[i]ons and syrvices with thappurten[a]nc[e]s in Kings Sutton & Walston
in the saide countie of Northt' to descende and come unto hym as ^to my right heyre

In heritable to me by the Comen Lawes of this lande And also I do give unto hym that
Twentie poundes which was geven and Bequeathed unto me by his fathers laste will and
testament Also I do geve and bequeathe my Nyese Marye ffermor fourtie pounds in
money towardes the preferment of her marriage so that she be maried by thadvise
and Councell of her bretherne John Thomas and Jerome or by two of them And
also I do give unto my syster [in-law] Anne ffermor a goblett with a cover to the same of sylv[er]
and gilte wrought with purtcules and pome gardenets Also I give & bequeathe
to my olde good Lorde the m[ar]ques of Wynchester my Clothe of Arres of ye pictures
of the Trinitie and Seynt John Baptiste for a Remembrance of my good will
towards hym Also I do give to my Cosyn ffynes and his wief and to my cosyn
Love and his wief to every of them a standing Cuppe of sylver and gilte with
their severall Covers whiche I have longe tyme used and kept in my owne
House to set upon their bords for a Remembrannce Also I do give unto my olde
good maisters and frends Sir John Baker knight syr Willyam Porteman knight
one of the kings Justecs to my cosyn Thomas Lucye and to Thomas abridges
Esquiers unto every of them a soveraigne of golde of xxs for a Remembrannce
Also I do geve unto my good Aunte Elizabeth Horne wydowe one soveraigne of
golde of xxs And to her sonne my Cosyne Edmund Horne Esquire one of my
yonge horses of my owne brede of thage of three yeares and upwards And
further I do give and bequeathe to my Cosyn Thomas Barret Annuitie or
Annuall Rent of fourtie shillings to be levyed and taken of my lands and Ten[emen]ts
in Idbury and Bolde aforesaide for terme of his lyfe Also I do give & bequeathe
to Doctor Coole xxs And Mr Hawarden p[ar]sone of Steple Aston and to Mr
Browne vicar of Dadington to every of them tenne shillings And further I do
give to my olde hartie frende Mr George Medleye and Elizabethe his wief
one bolle of sylver and gilte wrought w[i]t[h] peny penuth one of the same thre gilt
boles nowe remayning in their custodye of myne And also I do give to my
olde good frende John Anne? of North aston esquyer xls Also further I do give
and bequeathe unto my olde good syvants Willyam Kendall Rondulphe Waller
Thomas Hide Nicholas White Willyam Langton George my Butler Richard
Clerke and Thomas Syimes to every of them xls And further I do give to ev[er]y
of my other men syrvants that shalbe in my syrvice at the tyme of my decease xxs
And to every made and woman being my syvants in my house as is aforesaide
xiijs iiijd Also I do geve to ffawcken[er?] my Shep[er]d and his wief xxs And to
Edward Compton my syrvant xxs Also I do give to my preest Syr Thomas Gardyn[er]
xls And I will that all my said Syrvants bothe men and women shall have all
my said Legacies of my rewarde clerely over and besides there due wages And
further I do give unto my loving Cosyns Mr John Arderne and Mr Edwarde
Palmer to every of them xxs for them and their wiefs Also I do give unto my
Cosyn and godsonne Willyam Wilforde xls And to my Neese Johan[na] Wilforde
his syster xls Also I do give to my Cosyne Thomas We[n]man of Ebruley xxs
Also I do give to Thomas Alsell and James Hugeston late my syrvants to ev[er]y
of them tenne shillings And further I will that my saide wief shall have the
Custodye use and govern[a]nce of all my stuf bothe in hangings of tapsetrye and
beddinge belonging to my greate Chamber over my parlor at Som[er]ton
during her wedowhidd And after I do give yt to my Nevye Thomas ffermor
and my Cosyn his wief as farre as will furnishe one hole bedd besides the
hangings with one Counter poynte of Crymson Damaske and other of Tapsetry
for the same bedde And I will that my saide wief shall have also the use and
profytts to her owne use of all my parte and terme of tenne Copies of woode
at Charlebury whiche Thomas Edlowe and I have nowe in servce for terme
of divers yeres to have and Inyoie to my saide wief and her assignes for terme
of twentie yeres of my saide lease yf she so longe lyve And after her decease I
do frely geve yt to my said Nevie Thomas ffermor and his assignes forev[er] all the
saide terme of yeres then to come in the saide Copies And further I will that my
saide wief or my Executours shall at all tymes hereafter discharge and suve
harmeles my said Nevie Thomas ffermor and his Executours agaynste the
warden and Scollers of the newe College of Oxforde of and for the payment of
all somes of money that shalbe due to them hereafter for the woode that I bought of
them at Tyngewyke in the Countie of Buck Also I do give and bequeathe to
the rep[ar]acons of highe wayes betwene Stratton Audley and Eallesbury twenty
Marks And twenty pounds to the rep[ar]acon of highe wayes betweene Islippe

and Tetsworthe in the Countie of Oxforde And this money I will shalbe bestowed
therupon within two yeres next after my decease And further more where I have
gyven or hereafter shall give to my olde lovinge syrvantes anny Annuyties By my
L[ett]res patents sealyd and signed with myne owne hande for terme of their lyves
I do will that they and every of them shall peacebly have parcene and enyoie
the same withoute lette or disturbance of any p[er]sonne during their lyves Also I do
make and ordeyn by this my p[rese]nte Last will and testament Elizabeth my saide
wief to be my soole Executrix and she to have and Inyoye all the residue of
my goodes and moveable Cattalls to p[er]forme this my laste will and testament
And to paye my debtes and to mak due satysfaction unto all parsones to
whom yt may be proved that I have done any wronge unto And also beare
and paye all my funeralls after a convenient degree and order and with no
pompe or pryde or vayne glorie And further I do utterly revoke and adnull
all other willes and testaments made by me the said Willyam ffermor at any
tyme or tymes before the daye and date of this my p[rese]nte last will & testament
In wytnes wherof I the saide Wyllyam ffermor have to this my present Last
will and testament set my hand and my owne seale the xjth Day of September
In the yere of oure lorde god a Thousande fyve hundreth fyftie and two And in
the vjth yere of the Reigne of our Soveragne Lorde Edwarde the Sixte by
the grace of god of Englande ffrannce and Irelande kinge defendor of ye fayth
and in earthe of the churche of England and also of Ireland supreme head
In the presens of Thes parsones whos names hereafter followeth per me
Will’m ffermor by me John Amye thelder by me John Arden by me Willym
Kendall p[er] me Rad'm Walker p[er] me Thomam Gardener Clericum

Probatum fuit test[amentu]m coram d[omi]no Cant' Archiep[iscop]o apud London viij'o
die mensis Novembris Anno d[omi]ni Mill[es]imo quingentesimo qui[n]quage[si]mo secundo
Juramento Will'm Dalby? procuratoris Eliz' Relicte et Executric_ in h'mo'i
testamento no'i'at' Ac approbatu' ...................................................................
................................................................................................................

Oxfordshire Family History Society

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